Yes, you can quit - as a group

Is it time to butt out your last cigarette?

Photograph by: Bruce Edwards
, Edmonton Journal

American humorist Mark Twain knew how hard it is to quit smoking.

"Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world," the avid cigar lover said. "I know because I've done it thousands of times."

Most Alberta smokers try butting out seven to 10 times before they finally succeed. So, chances are many smokers who resolved Jan. 1st to butt out for good are still smoking or back to puffing three weeks later.

That's because smoking is an addiction, says Krista Potter, tobacco program specialist with the Lung Association Alberta & NWT: a physical ad-diction to nicotine, as well as a psychological dependence and a social act. That's why when you stop, you can never have just one puff or one cigarette.

"You're always one puff away from a pack," she says.

Nineteen per cent of Albertans 15 and older - one in five - continue to smoke. That's an an all-time low, Health Canada says, down from 21 per cent in 2007 and 26 per cent in 1999, but two per cent higher than the national average, and seven per cent higher than the 12-per-cent target the provincial government hoped to reach by 2012.

There are more smokers in Edmonton and northern Alberta (20 to 25 per cent) than in other parts of the province because of the larger blue-collar workforce here. Blue-collar workers smoke at twice the rate as white-collar workers.

As hard as it is to quit, 93 per cent of Alberta smokers believe quitting is possible. They're motivated to quit for three reasons: first, present or future concerns about their health or the health of a family member, especially if they've been diagnosed with cancer or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease); second, the cost of cigarettes; and third, pressure from non-smoking family, friends or coworkers to butt out.

But most smokers need some sort of assistance to quit, Potter says.

Trying to extend its reach to helping those still lighting up, the Lung Association started "Smart Steps . . . towards a smoke-free life," a three-session, how-to program specifically designed for the workplace.

Between January 2010 and November 2011, 522 smokers in 56 programs in 17 communities took Smart Steps. Another 15 programs are starting in January, February and March.

Many people who want to quit smoking spend a good part of their day at work, Potter notes. Smart Steps gives them the skills and knowledge to quit within a supportive social environment necessary for quitting.

"More people tend to come to cessation sessions when it's during work time and not something that they have to go to individually, so it's more group based," Potter says.

Employers benefit from improved productivity and improved employee health. It's estimated every employee who smokes costs an employer $3,396 each year due to increased absenteeism, decreased productivity and higher insurance costs.

Employees attend one general information session about the program, followed by three learning sessions, one a week for three weeks, for smokers who want to quit and the people supporting them.

In the first week, smokers learn about smoking myths and start preparing a personal quit-smoking plan. The second week they learn about withdrawal symptoms and the nicotine-replacement therapy and prescription medications available to help control them. The third week focuses on relapse, prevention and support.

"Relapse is very high if you've quit and you've relapsed before," Potter says.

Other smoking-cessation options include self-help materials, individual counselling, and the AlbertaQuits help line, albertaquits. ca.

"We also have this nice little resource called Be A Buddy, a resource person," Potter says. "A support person shouldn't be someone that is quitting smoking at the same time as you because you'll encourage each other to go out for a cigarette, or if one person relapses, the other person is way more likely to relapse as well."

Ex-smokers make good buddies because they are very good resources and very good listeners, as long as they don't have the attitude, "I quit, why can't you?" Potter warns.

Non-smokers can also be good buddies as long as they're not nagging. "They should be providing you with support, helping you create a plan of action, helping you deal with cravings, and listening to you.

"One of the withdrawal symptoms of quitting smoking is irritability, so you're going to have a really good ear beside you if you want to be more successful," Potter says.

Some people may not be ready to actually quit smoking during the program's sessions. For those who are, Potter recommends doing so after the third learning session when smokers have more resources and more information, increasing their chances for success.

Continued support is provided by a Lung Association worker who revisits the workplace one month, three months, six months and 12 months later.

"Even if you haven't quit smoking, especially if you haven't quit smoking, and you still would like to, it's a really great way to get extra support and get (thinking about quitting) back fresh in your mind," Potter says.

Many people butt out before Potter's return visit a month after the third learning session, she says.

The Smart Step program includes a $200 voucher/certificate given to each participant for nicotine replacement therapy such as the nicotine patch, gum, lozenges and inhaler (it cannot be used for prescription medication).

"If you use these products when you're trying to quit smoking, you're twice as likely to quit than going cold turkey," Potter says.

The trouble with cold turkey is that you're not controlling your withdrawal symptoms so you're more likely to go back to smoking, she explains.

"I'm not here to make you quit," Potter recently told Journal employees who smoke and their support people, all of whom recently attended a general information session about the Smart Steps program. "It's really just if you want to."

Five of these employees or their family members who plan to quit smoking forever with help from Smart Steps, have volunteered to have their progress tracked by The Journal over the next 12 months. They hope their stories help and inspire Journal readers who have already quit to stay smoke-free and for those thinking about quitting, to join them.

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